Yet another January release that has steadfastly refused to slip down the list. Halo Effect produce melodic death metal as mother made it. An orphanage for former members of the mighty In Flames, this is a gloriously well-produced album that is filled with brilliantly contoured metal tracks. Anthemic and ambitious, this is all about crisp riffs and grand choruses. It is an exhilarating listen, big, contoured and luscious sounding. It doesn’t shift the boundaries of melodic death metal in any way, but it gloriously celebrates it as an art form.

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